Dr. Paul Koudounaris “Heavenly Bodies” & Christine Wu “Come Home”

Christine Wu
“Come Home”

“The one thing that we yearn for in our living days, that makes us sigh and groan and undergo sweet nauseas of all kinds, is the remembrance of some lost bliss that was probably experienced in the womb and ca only be reproduced (though we hate to admit it) in death.” – Jack Kerouac

Christine Wu is an habitual trouble maker and professional rule breaker. Stylistically, her work is multi-layered, with haunting and sexual undertones. She often depicts people in flux, capturing the vulnerability of self discovery and the lingering ghosts of memories best left to the past.

Dr. Paul Koudounaris
“Heavenly Bodies”

In 1578, a labyrinth of underground burials assumed to be the remains of thousands of early Christian martyrs was discovered in Rome. The bones of these “catacomb saints” were then disinterred and sent to Catholic churches and religious houses to replace holy relics destroyed during the Reformation. Reassembled by skilled artisans, encrusted with gold and jewels and richly dressed in fantastic, colorful costumes, the skeletons were displayed in elaborate public shrines as reminders of the spiritual treasures that awaited the faithful after death. For nearly three centuries these ornate “Heavenly Bodies” were venerated as miracle-workers and protectors until doubts about their authenticity surfaced in the modern era. They then became a source of embarrassment for the Church and most were destroyed or hidden away.

Following the success of his book The Empire of Death, critically acclaimed author and photographer Dr. Paul Koudounaris brings the catacomb saints out of the darkness in this astonishing exhibition, which includes arresting images of more than seventy spectacular jeweled skeletons. Koudounaris gained unprecedented access to the most secretive religious sects in Europe and this is the first time that some of these incredible relics – both intriguing historical artifacts and masterpieces of artistic craftsmanship – have appeared.
Contact Matt Kennedy, Gallery Director for availability and purchase info: (323) 666-7667